Hose clamp



- Jan. 25, 1944. i BIDWELL 2,339,759

HOSE CLAMP Filed Sept. 9, 1942 .3 Sheets-Sheet l lmu nun: -"@illll =l l l mm lil\ mua g mm 5454 if Emma-44;

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 25, 1944. E. E. BIDWELL M 7 2,339,759-

HOSE CILAMP Filed Sept. 9, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

7 7 BY 5 Z I ATTORNEY.

Jan. 25, 1944. v E, E. BIDWELL HOSE CLAMP Filed S t. 9,1942 I s Sheets-Sheet 5 l atented 25, 194

' UNITED v Manama.-

zmass 1 nos: cum

TA QPATBNT51FF1EF I tween. '7

Walter humanitarian Application m. a, rats; seri l No. 457's" i 90laims. .(Cl;2l. 19) a 3- This invention. relates to strap tighteners and more particularly to improvements inhose clamps. I I An object or my present invention is to provide a novel connection between the flexible hose-encircling strap and the draw bolt the function of which is'to draw the ends of the strap together ventioni in the drawihss jacco pa y- Q partorthe specification. It is mssndionh s to be understood that I .do not limit myself to the showing made by the; said. drawings and description Irma! adoptiva ia ions of the pre- 7 terred embodiments; within the scope invenand thereby tighten the strap into clamping relation upon'the hose.

Another object is to provide an and strap connection or the character indicated whichincreases the length of that portion of the clamp throughout which it, applies its pressures radially inwards against the hose, and thereby increases the efllciency or the clamp inasmuchas it makes itmore nearly full fitting." v

A more detailed object in this connection is to iihbroved .bolt

tion as defined in in! claims.

V Referring" to'the drawin' g'sif Figure i'is aperspective view-oi a hose clamp embodying the tion. v

is an enlarged view in topiplan show- Flgure2 ing the. host fclamp operativeiy installed on a hose.

provide'a clampconnectlon as described wherein a yoke is employed to distribute the tension generated-by the draw bolt evenly throughoutthe greater, width of the strap; and wherein the strap leads oi! the yoke tangentially, and on that side thereof which is closer to the hose, with theresult that the portion of the strap which i'sunder tension'is'wrapped around the hose and presses radially inwardly thereagain'st to points on the circumference thereof which arespaced apart-a;

7 shorter distance than in the case ot'hosezciamps of more conventional construction" wherein flthe 5 direction in which m: I

Ai'urther object isto provide :s h strap and draw bolt interconnection, ofthc character indicated which is 'seli-tiglitc ing. 1that it is soconstructedthat as tithe strap increases the interconnection auton'iati becomes 'flrmer thus assuring against'relative lipping of the joint more positively as working tension of the strap increases. I g

A still further object inthis connection is the provision of a self-tightening strap and draw bolt interconnection as indicated wherein the parts are so constructed and co-operatively associated that they fasten themselves together without the aid of any riveting, welding, or any other ex-' pedient commonly employed to fasten such'parts' together.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of wheat clamp of the character described which is or'ample strength, durability, and dependability to meet the specifications es.- tablished for such devices for use upon aircraft,

the strap leads o tongue to the band;

Figure 8 is a transverse; verti'cai sectional view taken upon the'lin'e 8-4- or Figure us a perspective. detail view ofa-part or the clamp, illustrating ing the tongue to, thefband; 3 Fl "e his. dviewsimiliir to 4 but illustratir'ig an alternative methodof connecting the Figure ,6 is a view similar to Figure 1 but urnstrating amodiflediorrn of] hose clamp incorporat- ,ingtheprinciplesot-theinvention. f i V Figure '1' is a top plan view of the hose clamp ,of liigurel 6 showing the clamp operatlvely int l led nah I c i is a transverse; vertical sectional'view takcmuponthe line oi Figure {l'with the di I more-o 'entai-y,;view simllar Figs uses but showing; hedrawbolt tightenedtodraw .uieencspr the tEnsion straps .more'closely;to

gethjergiand thereby working tensionupori the u i v Figure 10 and one end or the'te'nsion strap.

Figure i1 isa plan view oi'theblankot metal cut to mpe.--an slzcbut not yet"bent to its ultimate form, w ch is used in'theconstruction of the stressedistributing yoke of Figure "10.

Figures .12 to it, inclusive; illustrate the blank 0! .oi whichis illustrated in Figure 13.

and yet is capable of being produced rapidly in large numbers and at a cost low enough to enable it to compete'successfully even with claq i ot much-less eflicient and satisiactory design.

The invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of thejpreferred embodiments of my Referring first to that modification or'rny invention which is illustrated in '1 ='igures '1' to 3 inclusiVa-myimprovedand simplified hoseclamp' I comprises a hose-encircling tension strap-ll the g ends of which are adapted to be towards v each other by a drawbolt "21, and a yoke-constructidnll for connecting each end of the strap mt Il'with the drawbol't 22. A tonmeclsols m. l

principles of the present inveni. risure-zwithtneda rectionof viewasiridicated;

one manner or connectate-metres yokeemployed'fot interconnectingthe draw bolt ii in th'd'successive'torms-to-which it is. I 4 hentas-the'foiding andbending operation is carri'ed out." the completed yoke being illustrated oveview aim-Min, x formed yoke at that'stage'in theproductiontherej-f l ployed to fill the gap between the spaced ends of the strap 2| and thereby prevent buckling of the hose 25 outwards between the ends of the strap when the clamp is tightened. The strap 2| and tongue 24 preferably are formed of metal, and I have found-that for most types of installation rustless, flexible sheet steel is most suitable.

One of the features of my invention liesvin the manner in'which each end of the strap 2| is operably connected to the drawbolt 22; For this purpose, each end of the strap is wound in spiral 'form, and each of the spiral portions 26 thusproduced is preferably of more than one full turn, approximately one and one-half full turns having been found preferable. Moreover a longitudinally extending slot 21 isiormed adjacent each end of the'strap 2|, this slot preferably being long enough to extend; throughoutthe spiral portion 28. or the strap except at the extremeend thereof which is disposed inside the spiral, where the slot 21 isclosed' by a transversely extending portion '28, the function of which will be explained in detail hereinbelow.

One of the stress-distributing yokes 23, is associated with each of the spiral ends 28 for the purpose of transmitting the tension which isgenerated by the drawbolt 22 to the tension strap and distributing that tension evenly through the entire width of the strap which," of course,

is considerably greater, than that of the drawbolt 22. Each of these yokes 221s of cylindrical form and may optionally be solid, asindicated at 3|,

such a manner as to provide positive assurance against their becoming disconnected. In fact the security of this connection increases proportionately with the degree of tension which is imposed upon the strap 2|. However, as an added precaution, the transverse portion 28 of the strap which closes the outer end of the slot 21 positively prevents unwinding of the spiral portion 26 because it engages the drawbolt 22 which extends transversely through both the trunnion or yoke 23 and through the spiral portion 26 of the strap which is wound therearound.

This type oi interconnection between, the.

tension strap and the yoke is of importance not only, because it results in lowered cost of manufacture by eliminating the necessity of riveting, welding. or other mechanical means of interconnection, but it also adds very materially to the overall eiiiciency of the hose clamp by decreasing I the distance between the spaced ends of the clamp when in operative position upon thehose.

As is best understood by reference to Figures 3 *the tension of the strap 2| is imparted to each indicated at All]. Figures. Thisis in distinct or of hollow construction, as illustrated at 32.

In some instances the hollow form 32 maybe preferable because voi the savingof material and consequent; reduction in weight associated with such construction. However, in the case ofthe yoke ll illustrated on the'right hand side of Figure 1, it is preferred that the solid form be employed inasmuch as the drawbolt 22 is threadedly engaged therewith, and if a solid type of yoke be employed a greater length of threads will be provided. The same importance does not-attach to the form." of yoke inasmuch as the dra'wbolt 22 passes freely therethrough through a clearance hole permitting free row tion of the drawbolt with respect to the yoke;

of the yokes 23 in a tangential manner, 1. e., at

one side ofthe yoke and on that side oi the'yoke which is closer to the hose 25, along the lines contrast to the corresponding action in hose clamps ofmore conventional construction wherein it is customary for the tension of the strap to be applied in a line leading directly to the iongitudinal axis of the yoke,- as along lines indicated at B in Figure 3. It will readily be appreciated, therefore, that for a given size of hose and for a given spacing between the axes of the two yokes 23 the strap 2| will be wound further around the circumference of the ,hos'e'. and

pressed radially inwards thereagainst when the connection between the strap and the yokes is in accordance with the hereinabove description 7 where the tension is applied tangentially. This,

.of course, diminishes-the distance between the points at which thepressure oi the strap against v the hose terminates and makes the hosevclamp of the present invention more nearly full fitting than is possible in any other type ofhose clamp v construction of which I; am aware.

In distinction. from more conventional con-Y struction,.the.yokes 23 arenot mechanically has tenedto the associated ends of-the strap 2|;

instead they are merely loosely disposed within of yokes 23 is free floating; e., is to rotate within the associated spiral, with the result that each yoke serves in-the capacity of a trunnion inasmuch as it is capable of turning with respect to that portion of the strap which embraces it. An advantage of the free 'iloating nature of the trunnions isvthat it permits them. to position themselves to the new alignment of the two opposed. trunnions resulting from, the decreased circumference of the strap as the ends thereof are drawn'more closely together. Howeven in' spite of the fact that each of the trunnions is not positively fastened to the associated end of'the strap, the spiral 'nature of that portion of the strap which engages the trunnion provides positive assurance against displacement of the strap from its engagement with the trunnion. The extreme end of the strap is compressed between the trunnion .and a portion of the strap upon which full tension is imposed with the result that a snubbing action is developed which posi tively connects the strap and the trunnion the respective spirals 21. Accordingl each Another advantage arising ,out of'the spiral arrangement of the ends of the strap around the trunnions is thatany tendency for the strap to unwind from around the trunnion, such as that developing when tension is imparted to the strap by the trunnionitselffis accompanied by a tendency for the trunnion. to rotate about its own axis.- In the case of the trunnion 3|, through which the draw bolt 22 is threaded, thistendency toward rotary motion of the trunnion ene hances the security-of the engagement between the trunnion and the threads: of the I draw bolt,

by pressing the threads of each more deeply into the valleys between threads of theother, this action developing adjacent both ends of the threaded hole throush 'which the draw bolt ex-I tending circumierentially across the space. tween that end and the other end so as to provent buckling oi the hose outward between the ends ofthe strap when the clamp is tightened.

Whereas one end of the tongue 86 is' fastened to theassociated end of the strap 2| it is preferred thatIthe other end oi'the tongue beslidablydisposed under the other 'end of the strap and com- Jpressed between itgand thehose so as .to permit both the tongue and the strap to coniorm themselves to the newxpositionsthereoi as the'clamp is tightened. Figures 4 and :5 illustrate altemative methods of fastening the tongue to the strap without necessitating the use of riveting, welding or the like. In Figure 4 notches flare formed.- -in the opposite edges :of the strap 2| to receive flanges 38 which extend laterally outwards'irom Y the edges of the tongue 36 when the tongue is '.flrst formed and which are adapted to be bent -outwards to seat within'the notch of 31 and essence --simila. r to the thickness of the strap 5! -so,that

when the strap after passingupwardsthrough the slot 59 is bent sharply down against theupper surface of the shelf ,68 and the bolt 53 threadedthrough thehole ,63, the projecting end .64 of theabolt 53 will press the loose end 66 of the strap 54 down against the shelf 58 so firmly .thatslipping Joithestrap upon the shelf 58 is preeluded.- It willbeobserved,howeventhat the l0 edge of the shelf at which defines'oneside.

' {of the slot 59 isrelatively sharp, with the result that. the extended end of til oi the bolt 53 bends width of the latter. V

,crimped tightly around the edges of the-strap 2| so asto fasten the tongue 36 firmly inoperative position to the strap 2i. The construction illustrated in Figurei5 is similar except thatflanges II are struck outward by being'severed from the body of the tongue 3B" insteadof extending laterally out from the side edges thereof when the tongue is flrst ior ned. Sincethis places the the strap 54 quite sharply therearound, thus add- 'ing'tothe security of the interconnection between thestrap 64 and the saddle" and assuring that the tension generated bythe drawbolt 53 will be distributed to the strap 54 throughout the entire It is' preferred that the upstanding flange 6| through whichthe drawbolt 58 is threaded'shall be. of multiple thickness so as tov increase the lengthoi the threaded portion'oi the boltwhich is engaged-by the flange and thereby increase flanges, 38' more-closely together than in the case of the tQngueIG in Figure 4, openings 31' areiormed in the body of the strap '2 I to accommodatethem in place or the notches-31 r the :previously described mOdiflcatlom- 1 Referring nowto the modification illustrated detail of construction is that a single size of hose 7 clamp is adaptable for use in conJunction with ice all sizes of hose.

' a plurality of sizes of hose, thereby reducing the number of stock sizes of clamps necessary to serv-- In this modification the stress distributing yoke I-- H associated with thehead'end 82,01 the draw bolt 63 may be of any'suitabledesign, preferably however being connected "to the tension strap 54' by the spiral snubber type connection described hereinabovein conjunction with the previously 1 described modification The stress"distributing yoke'fl associated with'the other end oi' thestrap. however, is oi. considerably-diflerent iorm,

being in the nature oi a' saddle'il the construction oiwhich can best be understood by referring to Figures 10 and iltol'l inclusive. This saddle 7 lT-comprises a'sheli portion 58 adaptedtobe positioned substantially tangentially with respect to of the.upstandingflange-IItov the position ii lustrated hi Figure 15; v and the next and last step is to bend the upper portion oi the flange 12 downward around thetop edge of the flange the circumferential portion or theftension strap 54 (see Figure 8) and, having a transverse slot "through which .the strap 54 extendselidably; so as to permit the saddle 51 to be placed upon thatportion oi the'strap flwhichLis-appropriate to the size of hose to be clamped. At one side of the shell portion 28 an upstanding flange ii is provided, the angularity betweenthe flange 8| and the shelf 58 being rigidly maintained by. end brackets 62. A hole 63 is formed through the flange GI and is threaded to receive the drawbolt 53 and the. parts'are so proportioned and ar ranged that the extreme lowest portion of the This last described bending-operation brings the the strength of this portion of the-device. Figures 11 to 17 inclusive-illustrate a novel and highly efficient; manner of constructing the sad- 'd1e 51 to meet these requirements. 1n"acc0rdance with this method oi production the blank whichlsfirst'cut from ajflat sheet of metal illustrated in Figure'il. a a The partwhichis ultimately-to form the shelf portion is'in the form oi aflat strip 'H interconnecting two laterally "extending flanges 12 and 13 which are connected to-the end oi the strip at the'ends or the flanges and 13. After the blank isthus i'ormed the'flrst'stepoi -bend- 'ing to produce the saddle B1 i's'to bend the wider flange 12 upwards 'along the line of bending ll so .thatl'the' flange 12 then extends 'perpendicularly, with respectto the plane of the remainder 9f' ,the blank. .The next step isto-bend this flange l2 upwardsv again about'a line It which perpendicular to the-:flrst line oibending 16 "and which "extends transversely across the strip H "I l adjacent one end thereof. This second benda .ingoperation brings the iiangell downwardso that its.lower edge is-closely adia'cent the plane of the strip 1 i or shelf 58 oi! the vultimatesaddle and is spacedlaterallyirom' a side edge'thereoi so as. to define thoslotll in: the ultimate saddle.

blank to the'torm illustrated imFigures i3 and *-17. The -next operation is to bend the material along a line oi bending 11 similar to the line I! but in the other end of the'shelf-i'orming portion ",thus placing the narrower flange Bin 'It' is intended that hose" position perpendicular to the plane or the shelf H and extending past the plane oi the flrstbent flange 12. The next step is to bend the pro- Jectingportion oi the flange "around the back .llso that it iathendisposedin embracing relaend which impatts great rigidity and'stre'ngth tothecompletedsaddle; I p g in accordance with this last described modification be provided with a tension strap ll of extended length, i. e., length greater than that clamps constructed of hose to be accommodated. Then when it is desired to install a clamp upon any size of hose (within suitable limits) a clamp should be assembled thereonwith the strap I4 fitting the hose loosely, and before thedrawbolt I3 istightened the'extendingend 82 of the strap be pulled so as to slide the strap 54 through the slot it of thesaddle until that portion of the strap 54 ,which'encircle's the hose is drawn hand-tight upon the hose. Then the drawbolt El should be tightened, the effect of which will be to fasten the-strap securely to the saddle after which the saddle and the other yoke will be drawn toward each otherso strongly. as to impose the desired degree of tension upon the strap. v Iclaimzx 1 x l. A hose clalrip comprising a flexible having a longitudinal slot adjacent each end, a trunnion associated with each end of said strap,

2,339,759 necessary toiit the clamp'to the largest size strap, flanges upstanding at the'ends of said shelf, the ends 'of said flanges at one side of said shelf being bent inwards into overlapping relation to each other to form a multiple thickness transverse flange and having a threaded hole therethrough in predetermined spaced relation with the. plane of the'uppersurface of said shelf .6. In a hose clamp, a stress-distributing yoke comprising a shelf portion having a transverse slot therein adapted to receive a hose clamp strap,

flanges upstanding at the ends of said shelf, the

s ap

each of said trunnions having the associated slotted portion of said strap wound therearound to dispose the associated end of the strap between-the associated slotted portion and that trunnion, and means interconnecting said trun-' nions and extending throughsaid slots for nulling said trunnions toward each other.

2. A hose clamp comprising aflexible. strap having a longitudinal slot adjacent each end,

a trunnion associated with each end of said strap,'

each of said trunnion's having'the associated slotted portion of said strap wound therearound to dispose theassociated end of the strap between the associated slotted portion. and that trunnion,

a'boit extending through both of said slots and transversely through both of said trunnions, and

means for tightening said bolt to'draw said trunnions toward each other. a

- 3. A hose clamp comprising a flexible stra having a longitudinal slot adjacent each end, a

trunnion associated with-eachend of said strap,

verse portions of=-the strap adapted to engage said vinterconnecting means if and when said strap starts to unwind from said t'runnions.

4. Ahose clamp comprising 'a" flexible strap havingya longitudinal slot adjacent each end, a trunhionmsociated with each end of said strap,

ends of said flanges at one side of said shelf being bent inward into overlapping relation extending transversely of said shelf portion above the plane of the upper surface thereof and one of said flanges having an extension bent around an edge of the other flange into embracing relation therewith to form a triple thickness transverse flange, and means for. receiving a clamping screw in position to clamp a strap extending upwards through said slot against said upper surfaceof said shelf portion.

7. In a hose clamp, a stress-distributing yoke comprising a shelf portion having a transverse slot therein adapted'to receive a hose clamp strap, flanges upstanding at the ends of said shelf, the end of said flanges at one side of said shelf being bent inwards into overlapping relation extending transversely of said shelf portion above the plane of the upper surface thereof and. one of said flanges having an extension bent around an edge of the other flange into embracing relation therewith to form a triple thickness transverse flange, said transverse flange having a threaded hole therethrough parallel to said upper surface of said shelf portion with the crests of its threads I spaced above the plane thereof a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said strap whereby'a bolt threaded throughsaid hole 'and extending over said shelf presses said strap against aid shelf. I

8. In a hose clamp, a stress distributing yoke comprising a shelf portion, flanges upstanding at the ends of said shelf, corresponding ends of said flanges being extended and disposed in overlapping relation to each other to form a multiple thicknes flange extending transversely ofsaid yoke, said transverse flange'being parallel to and spaced from an edge ofgsaid shelf portion to deflne a slot for the j slidable reception of a hose clamp strap,.and'means for receiving a-clamping screw each of said trunnionshaving the associated slottedportion ofsaid strap wound therearound to dispose the associated end of the'strap between the associated slottedportion and that'trunnion; a bolt extending through both of said slotsand transversely through both of said-trunnions, and

when said strap starts to unwind from saidtrunnions. r

5. In a hose clamp, agstress distributing-yoke comprising a shelf portionhavingatransverse slot therein adapted to receive a hose clamp strap against said shelf.

surface of said sh'elf.

I 9. In a hose clamp, a stress-distributing yoke comprising a shelf portion, flanges upstanding at the ends of said shelf, corresponding ends of said flanges being'extend'ed and disposed in overlapping relation to each other to form a multiple thickness flange extending transversely of said yoke, said transverse flange being parallel to and spaced from an edge of said shelf portion to deflne a slot for the slidable reception of a hm clamp strap, said transverse flange having a threaded hole'therethrough parallel to said upper surface of said shelf portion with the crests of its threads spaced above the plane thereof a distance substantiallycorresponding to the thickness of said strap whereby a bolt threaded through said hole and extending over. said shelf presses said EARL E. BIDWELL,

in position to clamp said strap against the upper 

